WSU warns returning students to not wait until last minute due to snow storms

Snow caused several delays on closures on Interstate 90 from North Bend to Ellensburg. Chains were required for all vehicles going over Snoqualmie Pass except for those with all-wheel-drive.

Snow caused several delays on closures on Interstate 90 from North Bend to Ellensburg. Chains were required for all vehicles going over Snoqualmie Pass except for those with all-wheel-drive.

Photo: Washington State Department Of Transportation

Photo: Washington State Department Of Transportation

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Snow caused several delays on closures on Interstate 90 from North Bend to Ellensburg. Chains were required for all vehicles going over Snoqualmie Pass except for those with all-wheel-drive.

Snow caused several delays on closures on Interstate 90 from North Bend to Ellensburg. Chains were required for all vehicles going over Snoqualmie Pass except for those with all-wheel-drive.

Photo: Washington State Department Of Transportation

WSU warns returning students to not wait until last minute due to snow storms

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As the snowfall refuses to relent in the Cascade Mountains, the woes of Interstate 90 travelers increased Friday afternoon.

Washington State University students were the latest group to be affected by heavy snow over Snoqualmie Pass. The university put out a news release Friday advising students to "exercise caution when traveling back to campus."

"Washington State University is urging students to closely watch weather forecasts, monitor road conditions and allow plenty of extra travel time as they prepare to return to WSU campuses for the start of spring semester on Monday," the release said. It even urged students to contact professors and instructors if it became unsafe to travel.

Above all, the school told students to give themselves plenty of travel time.

As of 4:30 p.m., Friday, snow was still falling thick across the pass and chains were required for all vehicles except those with all-wheel drive, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

WSDOT crews are working hard to clear snow off I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass. Chains are required, except AWD. WSU warning students not to wait until Sunday to return to campus for the new semester.5pm 6pm 7pm @KIRO7Seattlepic.twitter.com/kgY4JdiJUv

The stretch of I-90 between North Bend and Snoqualmie Pass -- familiar to both WSU students and skiers -- was plagued most of Friday with delays and closures due to foul weather and traffic accidents. Westbound lanes near Ellensburg were closed for most of the early morning.

The snow may not stop, as the National Weather Service forecast all week that a snow storm was going to hit the region throughout the weekend and next week.